America’s Freedom Bell
The Bell of the Ball Rings at Midnight
LET FREEDOM RING!
America’s Freedom Bell has partnered with the Official Countdown 250 Ball to create the most emotional, patriotic, and uplifting midnight celebration in America.
At the stroke of midnight on July 3, 2026 — as America enters its 250th birthday — the All-American Heroes will ring the Freedom Bell as guests throughout the ballroom ring commemorative bells in a joyful chorus of freedom.
Our country Our bells Our freedom
The Midnight Moment
At the stroke of midnight, America’s Freedom Bell will ring out in Washington, D.C. — accompanied by a joyful chorus of small bells rung by guests throughout the ballroom.
One Historic Bell
A powerful symbol of service, remembrance, liberty, and national unity.
Thousands of Small Bells
Guests joining together in a shared chorus of freedom.
One Nation Turning 250
A once-in-a-generation moment at the heart of Independence Weekend.
A National Storyline for America’s 250th
One historic bell. One national tour across America. One unforgettable midnight finale at the Countdown 250 Ball.
America’s Freedom Bell and Countdown 250 are joining together to create a coast-to-capital patriotic story for America’s 250th birthday — a journey honoring service, sacrifice, remembrance, and unity across America, culminating in a dramatic midnight ringing in Washington, D.C.
This is more than an event feature. It is a national story waiting to be told.
The Journey
A cross-country patriotic tour beginning in San Diego and moving toward Washington, D.C. during Independence Weekend.
The Mission
Honoring service members, veterans, military families, first responders, and the ideals of liberty and freedom.
The Finale
A dramatic midnight ringing of America’s Freedom Bell at Countdown 250, joined by guests ringing small commemorative bells throughout the ballroom.
A Bell Forged from History
Forged from Sacred Steel
America’s Freedom Bell was created by the Spirit of Liberty Foundation as a tribute to America’s Armed Forces and the enduring ideals of liberty. The bell carries a powerful inscription: “Honoring Our Armed Forces Past, Present and Future.”
Its history and symbolism make it an especially meaningful centerpiece for America’s 250th birthday celebration. Through this partnership, the Freedom Bell’s message of service, sacrifice, resilience, and unity will be carried into the heart of Independence Weekend in Washington, D.C.
330 lbs
of bronze
11 lbs
of steel from the World Trade Center
D-Day 2013
the year and date the bell was cast
Past Stops
including Normandy and Pearl Harbor
From Coast to Capital
The 2026 National Tour
The 2026 Freedom Bell journey is planned as a coast-to-capital mission of patriotism, remembrance, and civic pride. At each stop, the bell will serve as a gathering point for veterans, military families, civic leaders, community organizations, and everyday Americans whose stories reflect the meaning of freedom.
Planned Route Highlights
Planned and proposed stops include:
- San Diego, California — Tour launch at Balboa Park
- Phoenix, Arizona — Community events and veteran organization engagement
- Grand Canyon, Arizona — Patriotic gathering and public bell display
- Amarillo, Texas — Travel and community stop
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Civic and community engagement
- Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas — Regional events and community engagement
- Austin, Texas — Civic meetings and patriotic programming
- Houston, Texas — Community events and veteran-focused engagement
- Little Rock, Arkansas — Civic and community gathering
- Nashville, Tennessee — Music, veterans, and community events
- Washington, D.C. — Grand finale during Independence Weekend
Schedule details are subject to confirmation and may be updated as the Freedom Bell journey develops.
The Family Behind the Journey
Serving Those Who Serve
As America approaches its 250th birthday, Kevin Fahlund is nearing the conclusion of a 30-year career in the United States Navy. Rather than simply marking the end of that chapter, Kevin and his family are undertaking a cross-country mission of patriotism, remembrance, and gratitude.
Joined by his wife, Susan, and their children, Reagan and Gage, Kevin plans to help escort America’s Freedom Bell from San Diego to Washington, D.C., sharing its message of liberty and service at stops across the country.
For Kevin and his family, the journey is deeply personal: a way to honor service members, veterans, military families, and all those who have sacrificed for the freedoms America celebrates.
That human story is a powerful part of the Freedom Bell’s journey to Countdown 250 — a family carrying a symbol of freedom across America, communities gathering along the way, and a final midnight ringing in Washington, D.C. as America enters its 250th birthday.
The Human Story Behind the Journey
30-Year Navy Career
Kevin Fahlund is nearing the conclusion of three decades of service in the United States Navy.
A Family Mission
Kevin, Susan, Reagan, and Gage are helping carry the Freedom Bell’s message across America.
Serving Those Who Served
The journey honors service members, veterans, military families, and the freedoms they helped protect.
Personal-capacity disclosure: This tour is being undertaken in a private citizen capacity and does not represent the United States Navy, the Department of Defense, or any official government endorsement.
For media partners, Kevin Fahlund’s family mission adds a deeply human dimension to the national story: a Navy family carrying a bell of remembrance across America on the road to the nation’s 250th birthday.
Media Partnership Opportunity
A national story built for television, digital, radio, print, podcasts, and social media.
The America’s Freedom Bell partnership with the Countdown 250 Ball provides a rare and compelling media opportunity: a patriotic journey across America, emotional local stories in multiple markets, and a dramatic midnight finale in Washington, D.C. as the nation enters its 250th birthday.
A media partner can help tell the story as it unfolds — from the tour launch in San Diego, through major stops across the country, to the final ringing of the Freedom Bell as the crescendo to a powerful, patriotic ceremony at the Official Countdown 250 Ball.
Potential Story Angles
The Bell of Freedom Across America
Following the coast-to-capital journey from San Diego to Washington, D.C.
Veterans and Families Along the Route
Local human-interest stories honoring service, sacrifice, and remembrance.
America at 250
A national conversation about liberty, unity, service, and the next chapter of the American story.
The Midnight Moment
The dramatic ringing of America’s Freedom Bell as the nation enters its 250th birthday.
The Chorus of Bells
Thousands of guests joining the moment by ringing small commemorative bells throughout the ballroom.
Interested media partners are invited to connect with the Countdown 250 team to explore coverage opportunities, partnership concepts, and ways to help bring this national story to audiences across America.
Request Media Partnership InformationBe There When Freedom Rings
Be in the Room When It Happens
On July 3, 2026, the Official Countdown 250 Ball will bring together Americans from across the country for an extraordinary evening of elegance, entertainment, remembrance, and celebration.
America’s Freedom Bell will help mark the moment when the nation enters its 250th birthday.
At midnight, Freedom will ring. And the people will ring with it.
The midnight celebration of our lifetime.
Our country. Our bells. Our freedom.
LET FREEDOM RING!